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Sneaking over to Celebrity…..


Ferramc

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Hi everyone,

 

I’ve been a die hard royal cruiser for over 28 years (only a diamond as there were some lean, limited travel years).  I just got a really good deal on a Celebrity Equinox cruise - retreat class, royal suite - that I jumped on for next May.    Life has presented some unique challenges the past few months and it was time to do something positive.   This cruise it will be just my husband and me - we’ll be celebrating 35 years! 
 

Has anyone sailed the Equinox since it was refurbished? I know this is a royal blog but would love to hear thoughts on sailing the equinox compared to the Oasis class ships   Thanks  

 

 

 

 

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not eqinox but I did Summit recently in the retreat. For us there was really no comparison. Celebrity takes everything to another level. The service, food, ship condition, everything was incredible. I was blown away by the quality of food and service in Luminae. We have 2 more Celebrity cruises booked, can't wait to go again. 

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Just sailed Equinox in May.

Generally happy, very different experience from an Oasis class though.

Ship was in great ship, food was good, they were having staffing issues so service was willing but limited.

The target audience was a little older than us though which was fine since we were looking for the ABC islands and some pool days - mission accomplished.

 

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8 hours ago, Ferramc said:

Hi everyone,

 

I’ve been a die hard royal cruiser for over 28 years (only a diamond as there were some lean, limited travel years).  I just got a really good deal on a Celebrity Equinox cruise - retreat class, royal suite - that I jumped on for next May.    Life has presented some unique challenges the past few months and it was time to do something positive.   This cruise it will be just my husband and me - we’ll be celebrating 35 years! 
 

Has anyone sailed the Equinox since it was refurbished? I know this is a royal blog but would love to hear thoughts on sailing the equinox compared to the Oasis class ships   Thanks  

 

 

 

 

I love Celebrity but their ships are nothing like the Oasis class.. Celebrity's ships are beautiful and elegant but they do not have the entertainment offerings like an Oasis class.. I recently realized I prefer celebrity over Royal.. Their food, service, ambience, no smoking in casinos all much better on Celebrity but you cant go into it comparing it to Oasis class.. I am going on Equinox on the 26th in their Aqua class and I am excited But I really really enjoy their new Edge class ships. I know you got a great deal but if I were you I would of started with their best new ship Beyond so you could make a proper comparison.. 

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8 hours ago, jticarruthers said:

Just sailed Equinox in May.

Generally happy, very different experience from an Oasis class though.

Ship was in great ship, food was good, they were having staffing issues so service was willing but limited.

The target audience was a little older than us though which was fine since we were looking for the ABC islands and some pool days - mission accomplished.

 

Thank you.   Hopefully we won’t have any service issues since we’re  in the royal suite (retreat). I just took our first star class on royal Caribbean last month and got completely spoiled.  The prices were really high for Royal Star class next May, which is why I looked at celebrity.  For whatever reason the week we’re going is 3-5k less than other celebrity Royal suite  sailings in May and June.   

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2 hours ago, Suite Snob said:

"Sneaking over to Celebrity"

Traitor!  

 

 

 

😁

I can’t help it 😞 The bloggers on this board enticed me to try star class - which I did in May for the first time! It was a great experience but not one I’m willing to spend over $13k for 2 of us to replicate (almost as much as it cost for 7 of us in the rccl villa last month).  But I’m a deal hunter and Celebrity’s 60% off sale and the room availability made it possible for me to get the royal treatment again at a more reasonable cost 😂 The best part is celebrity is giving us OBC and the TA I use will give some too!  
 

But I will be sailing RCCL sometime in the next 12 months so I’m still staying on this site!  I have a cruise certificate that needs to be used by June 2023. I’m going to look for last minute deals somewhere between November and March.  

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8 minutes ago, Ferramc said:

I can’t help it 😞 The bloggers on this board enticed me to try star class - which I did in May for the first time! It was a great experience but not one I’m willing to spend over $13k for 2 of us to replicate (almost as much as it cost for 7 of us in the rccl villa last month).  But I’m a deal hunter and Celebrity’s 60% off sale and the room availability made it possible for me to get the royal treatment again at a more reasonable cost 😂 The best part is celebrity is giving us OBC and the TA I use will give some too!  
 

But I will be sailing RCCL sometime in the next 12 months so I’m still staying on this site!  I have a cruise certificate that needs to be used by June 2023. I’m going to look for last minute deals somewhere between November and March.  

What ever floats your boat.  Hahahahahah, get it!  No really, life is about choices and you made the one you want, at the time you want it, for the reasons you want.  Good 4 ya!

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12 hours ago, Ferramc said:

I can’t help it 😞 The bloggers on this board enticed me to try star class - which I did in May for the first time! It was a great experience but not one I’m willing to spend over $13k for 2 of us to replicate (almost as much as it cost for 7 of us in the rccl villa last month).  But I’m a deal hunter and Celebrity’s 60% off sale and the room availability made it possible for me to get the royal treatment again at a more reasonable cost 😂 The best part is celebrity is giving us OBC and the TA I use will give some too!  
 

But I will be sailing RCCL sometime in the next 12 months so I’m still staying on this site!  I have a cruise certificate that needs to be used by June 2023. I’m going to look for last minute deals somewhere between November and March.  

I def understand, and don't see it as a negative.  After all, the same parent company owns both cruise lines.  We are sailing our first Celebrity cruise this December, after first getting booted from Harmony to Wonder (moved Harmony elsewhere), then having that Wonder sailing cancelled for promotional (read: TAs) and the naming ceremony.  The alternative offerings for the same week from RCI for those of us cancelled were....quite crappy, frankly.  😂  

We decided to sail with Celebrity that week after finding a great Retreat price on Apex.  Can't wait till December for the cruise!  We don't have an RCI cruise currently booked (also booked Beyond for next November with a ridiculously low price in the Retreat), but we are excitedly awaiting RCI to release the Icon sailings.  So far, crickets on the Icon......

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 6/15/2022 at 11:12 PM, Ferramc said:

Hi everyone,

 

I’ve been a die hard royal cruiser for over 28 years (only a diamond as there were some lean, limited travel years).  I just got a really good deal on a Celebrity Equinox cruise - retreat class, royal suite - that I jumped on for next May.    Life has presented some unique challenges the past few months and it was time to do something positive.   This cruise it will be just my husband and me - we’ll be celebrating 35 years! 
 

Has anyone sailed the Equinox since it was refurbished? I know this is a royal blog but would love to hear thoughts on sailing the equinox compared to the Oasis class ships   Thanks  

 

 

 

 

Equinox is much smaller than Oasis and does not have any toys.   Pools, hot tubs, bars & restaurants.   Smaller ship, better crew/passenger ratio, and I've experienced a better service and dining experience.   Celebrity and Royal are different in what they offer.  Royal is clearly more of a family with/ or without kids line - lots of ship activities (water slides, rock climbing ,  carousel , escape room,  rock climbing, ice skating, and far more eating/drinking options) whereas Celebrity is more focused on adult clientele - no toys.  Quieter, focused more on dining and entertainment.  Both have casinos.  Oasis class offer large theater productions and aqua theater, Celebrity - more modest entertaining offerings.

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  • 1 month later...

We Love Celebrity and it is our Cruise Line of Choice But friends are shocked that I Also like RCCL's Oasis Class ships!

 Why? The Entertainment and the Central Park. Also the enclosed adult's solarium at the Front of Wonder of the Seas.

 Sitting outside on a top deck above the pools listening to the music and watching the kids in the water park whilst sipping a (no Alcohol) Pina Colada on a warm Caribbean day..........

 I can put up with the Rug Rats and crowds for the great entertainment on the Oasis class ships. The Aqua/Diving and Ice Shows are spectacular, and we go multiple times.

 My Wife has a Garden and Plant Passion, so we spend a lot of Time there. Dining at Giovani's at an outdoor table or an (open) window seat looking out at the Central Park is special.

 Legions of Rock on Wonder brought back to me why I need Hearing Aids now at age 80.

 To many past cruises to list and 12 more coming up..............

 

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On 6/15/2022 at 11:12 PM, Ferramc said:

Hi everyone,

 

I’ve been a die hard royal cruiser for over 28 years (only a diamond as there were some lean, limited travel years).  I just got a really good deal on a Celebrity Equinox cruise - retreat class, royal suite - that I jumped on for next May.    Life has presented some unique challenges the past few months and it was time to do something positive.   This cruise it will be just my husband and me - we’ll be celebrating 35 years! 
 

Has anyone sailed the Equinox since it was refurbished? I know this is a royal blog but would love to hear thoughts on sailing the equinox compared to the Oasis class ships   Thanks  

 

 

 

 

Different experiences but both can be amazing provided you understand what you are getting on each line. Our 25th on Celebrity (Solstice) to Alaska was the best vacation we ever took.

Congrats on the 35!

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  • 1 month later...

We did a 12 night on the Equinox in March of this year. Did an 11 day on her back in 2017.  Was impressed with her back in '17. Not so much this time even though we were Elite this time. The entertainment and activities were bland and so was the food.  The service was nothing special like it was the first time. They also seemed to be short staffed. So it may have been they were just getting going again after covid.

That was our first cruise since before the Covid thing. We sailed on the Oasis twice, the last time in December of 2021 with our adult children (pre Christmas cruises in Dec tend to be cheaper and less crowded).  Frankly we were looking for something to do on the Equinox, not so on the Oasis what with the Board walk, central park etc, etc. 

We've been on X three times this year. The cruises were excellent, the ships mediocre. The other two cruises were on the Summit. The second Summit 12 night cruise was no better than the first. We wouldn't have picked the Summit the second time but for the itinerary which we booked 2 years before. 

Going back to Royal next year, though neither booked cruise are on an Oasis class due to the itinerary. If we want bland, we'll sail on a cheap non Oasis class Royal cruise. (which is what we are doing in early Dec of this year and Feb of next) To us it's all about the itinerary and the cost. If we find a good itinerary at a good price...we're gone. No such thing as a bad cruise.

Bottom line...try Equinox to see how you like it. Every cruise is different based on time of year, length, itinerary, cabin, etc, etc.

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